Helicopter pilot in crash that killed Kobe Bryant didn’t follow training when flying into disorienting clouds, investigators say (2024)

FAQs

Helicopter pilot in crash that killed Kobe Bryant didn’t follow training when flying into disorienting clouds, investigators say? ›

When he flew into low clouds, pilot Ara Zobayan neglected to follow his training and quickly became disoriented, the National Transportation Safety Board's investigators said.

At the time of the disaster, the nine people on board were headed to a basketball game at Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park, where the Lakers legend was scheduled to coach Gianna's team. Christina Mauser, a mother of three, was an assistant basketball coach at the academy.

Failing to properly plan a flight path. Failing to adequately maintain the helicopter. Failing to operate the craft properly. Operating the helicopter in unsafe conditions.

And Bryant had great financial success off the court too, including lucrative endorsem*nt deals with high-profile brands such as McDonald 's (ticker: MCD) , Nike (NKE), and Mercedes-Benz (DMLRY). Bryant's net worth at the time of his death on Jan. 26, 2020 was about $600 million, according to Forbes .

The National Transportation Safety Board primarily blamed pilot Ara Zobayan in the Jan. 26, 2020 crash that killed him along with Bryant, the basketball star's daughter and six other passengers heading to a girls basketball tournament.

Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were buried Friday at Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach. They were killed Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash.

Under the settlement, Christina's husband Matthew Mauser will receive $1.25 million. Siblings J.J. Altobelli and Alexis Altobelli will share another $1.25 million, per the Los Angeles Times. A report from the L.A. County Counsel recommended the settlement to "avoid further litigation costs," according to the Times.

Now, like the rest of Southern California, Mauser finds himself social distancing and taking on the role of a single parent and home school teacher as he's hunkered down at his Huntington Beach residence with his three children: 12-year-old Penny Rose, 9-year-old Tom and 4-year-old Ivy.

All nine people on board were killed: retired professional basketball player Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri, his daughter Alyssa, Payton Chester, her mother Sarah, basketball coach Christina Mauser, and the pilot, Ara Zobayan. Calabasas, California, U.S.

Chopper Crash Injuries

Spinal cord injury: Spine injuries can result in partial or total paralysis. Burn injuries: These injuries can be extremely painful and even fatal, depending on the severity and extent to which the victim is burned.

Why do helicopters spin before they crash? ›

The freewheeling unit is a special clutch mechanism that disengages any time the engine rotational speed is less than the rotor rotational speed. If the engine fails, the freewheeling unit automatically disengages the engine from the main rotor, allowing the main rotor to rotate freely.

If the helicopter engine fails and nothing is done, the rotors will stop. So we need something else to prevent the decay of the rotor RPM, and we need it quickly. So long as we can restore the rotor RPM, the helicopter will keep flying – it will not fall out of the sky and crash.

Kobe Bryant's wife Vanessa Bryant received nearly $29 million as part of her late husband's estate after his death in January 2020. The money was part of a trust set up by Kobe Bryant to provide for Vanessa and their children in the event of his death.

Pam Bryant

Kobe Bryant / Mother

25 million USD (2015)

Kobe Bryant / Salary

January 26, 2020

2020 Calabasas helicopter crash / Start date

There is no doubt that one of the greatest basketball players of all time is Kobe Bryant, but after his sudden death in 2020 due to a helicopter crash, his wife Vanessa Bryant has been under the spotlight. She has dedicated her life to her daughters and to philanthropic work with a net worth estimated in $600 million.

January 26, 2020 (age 13 years), Calabasas, CA

Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant / Died

Kobe goes on to explain that traveling via helicopter allowed him to meet his obligations for work while getting home in time to pick his daughters up from school. Even when his wife Vanessa offered to take over pick up duty, Kobe insisted.